The demand for an independent Scotland originated in the late nineteenth century, alongside the growth of the Irish home rule movement. Both Scotland and Ireland, close in distance and culture, saw...Show moreThe demand for an independent Scotland originated in the late nineteenth century, alongside the growth of the Irish home rule movement. Both Scotland and Ireland, close in distance and culture, saw the rise of nationalism and with it a desire to break away from the Union at the same time. Eventually, Irish independence was established after a devastating war at the beginning of the interwar period, but how did the Scottish home rule movement relate to this change? Did they use the Irish situation as an example for Scotland and therefore a warning for the United Kingdom? Or was it considered a ‘how-not-to’ case by the Scottish politicians? This thesis looks at the influence of Ireland on the argumentation used in debates about Scottish home rule in the interwar period (1918-1939) by analysing British parliamentary debates.Show less
